System and method for scalable multi-level remote diagnosis and predictive maintenance
First Claim
1. A method for remotely monitoring and diagnosing operations of a machine, the method comprising:
- detecting signals of one or more of the machine'"'"'s operating and condition parameters;
comparing the detected signals to a signal model maintained locally with respect to the machine'"'"'s location and identifying any anomalies in the detected signals compared to the signal model;
transmitting information describing each anomaly to a location remote from the machine;
diagnosing at the remote location the information describing the anomaly, where the diagnosis includes an initial analysis of the information by diagnostic tools maintained at the remote location, a subsequent analysis of the information by diagnostic tools maintained elsewhere if the initial analysis fails to provide a diagnosis and a final analysis by a team of humans aided by a collaborative environment if the initial and subsequent analyses fails to provide a diagnosis; and
reporting the diagnosis of the anomaly to a location capable of attending to repair of the machine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for remote diagnosis and predictive maintenance of devices, machines, and systems has been presented. The system detects signals of one or more operating and condition parameters and compares the detected signals to a signal model maintained locally with respect to the location of the device, machine, or system for anomalies. Information describing each anomaly is transmitted to a location remote from the device, machine, or system for diagnosis. The diagnosis includes an initial analysis of the information by diagnostic tools maintained at the remote location, a subsequent analysis of the information by diagnostic tools maintained elsewhere if the initial analysis fails to provide a diagnosis and a final analysis by a team of humans aided by a collaborative environment if the initial and subsequent analyses fails to provide a diagnosis. The diagnosis is transmitted to a maintenance service for repair of the device, machine, or system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for remotely monitoring and diagnosing operations of a machine, the method comprising:
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detecting signals of one or more of the machine'"'"'s operating and condition parameters;
comparing the detected signals to a signal model maintained locally with respect to the machine'"'"'s location and identifying any anomalies in the detected signals compared to the signal model;
transmitting information describing each anomaly to a location remote from the machine;
diagnosing at the remote location the information describing the anomaly, where the diagnosis includes an initial analysis of the information by diagnostic tools maintained at the remote location, a subsequent analysis of the information by diagnostic tools maintained elsewhere if the initial analysis fails to provide a diagnosis and a final analysis by a team of humans aided by a collaborative environment if the initial and subsequent analyses fails to provide a diagnosis; and
reporting the diagnosis of the anomaly to a location capable of attending to repair of the machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A local tool positioned proximate a machine for providing an analysis of the machine'"'"'s operating conditions, where the tool is connected via a communications link to a remote diagnostic tool that diagnoses an anomaly in the operation of the machine when requested by the local tool, the local tool comprising:
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a plurality of sensors connected to the machine for generating information describing the operating condition of the machine;
a processor for receiving the information from the plurality of sensors, the processor including (1) a model of the information assuming normal operation of the machine, (2) instructions for analyzing the information from sensors with respect to the model and generating an exception report when the information from the plurality of sensors does not fit the model; and
an interface to the communications link for sending the exception report to the remote diagnostic tool for diagnosis. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A diagnostic tool located remotely from a machine that provides a diagnosis of an anomaly of the machine'"'"'s operating conditions, where the diagnostic tool is connected via a communications link to a local tool that is located proximate the machine, and the local tool monitors the operating conditions of the machine and identifies the anomalies, the remote diagnostic tool comprising:
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a first node on the communications link for diagnosing the anomaly detected by the local tool and instructions for diagnosing the anomaly using diagnostic tools available at the node;
additional nodes on the network having access to additional diagnostic tools;
an interface between the first node and the additional nodes for communicating the anomaly from the first node to the additional nodes; and
instructions at the first node for communicating the anomaly to one of the additional nodes if the diagnostic tools available at the first node are unable to provide a diagnosis of a cause of the anomaly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A diagnostic tool located remotely from a machine that provides a diagnosis of an anomaly of the machine'"'"'s operating conditions, where the diagnostic tool is connected via a communications link to a local tool that is located proximate the machine, and the local tool monitors operating conditions of the machine and identifies the anomalies, the remote diagnostic tool comprising:
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a node on the communications link diagnosing the anomaly detected by the local tool;
diagnostic tools at the node including a first library of patterns comprising information describing systemic anomalies and a second library of patterns comprising information describing component anomalies; and
instructions at the node for diagnosing, using the first and second libraries in succession. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification